The Houston Texans came out of Week 1 with a 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but there was plenty in Sunday afternoon’s game to chew on beyond the final score. Houston had stretches that looked encouraging, and a few areas that clearly need work before Week 2 rolls around.
One of the biggest positives was David Montgomery’s showing. The running back was productive both on the ground and as a receiver, turning 20 carries into 60 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 3.0 yards per carry.
He also added three catches for 19 yards and another score. When Houston needed him, Montgomery answered, and he gave the team a real shot to pull out the win.
It will be worth watching whether his role grows even more next week.
There’s no way around the other side of this game: the Texans’ defense has some fixing to do after Josh Allen and the Bills offense moved the ball in a bunch of different ways. Allen finished 20 of 29 for 334 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, and he also chipped in 23 rushing yards and two rushing scores.
He hit several deep throws and used his legs to keep plays alive, which put Houston in tough spots throughout the afternoon. If the Texans can generate more pressure and tighten up in coverage, the defense should look a lot sharper next week.
CJ Stroud also gave Houston reason to feel good about what’s ahead. The quarterback went 26 for 38 for 274 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, and he showed the kind of response that points to a bounce-back year.
The one blemish was the ball security issue, as Stroud fumbled twice, and that ended up hurting the Texans. Even so, if he cleans that up, the offense looks like it has the pieces to keep building.
In Other News...
Texans Could Shake Up Their Week 2 Rotation After That Opener
After a flat Week 1 loss to the Bills, the Texans are already looking at a few moving parts in their rotation heading into Sundays matchup with the Bengals. Wide receiver Jaylin Noel, tight end Jake Klein and safety Kamari Ramsey all saw limited snaps in the opener, but each flashed enough to keep the coaching staff interested as Houston tries to tighten things up and find more reliable production in a hurry.
The biggest questions could come on defense, where the Texans may adjust their lineup depending on how Reed Blankenship is performing. For a team trying to steady itself after an uneven start, this looks less like a wholesale overhaul and more like a chance to reward players who showed something in brief work and see whether a few targeted changes can give Houston a better feel in Week 2. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Defense Just Lost A Key Piece At The Worst Time
Houstons defense had enough trouble in the season opener without losing another important piece, and now it will have to move forward without Henry TooToo for at least four weeks. The linebacker suffered a shoulder injury in the loss to the Buffalo Bills and has been placed on short-term injured reserve, a setback that comes at a time when the unit is already trying to steady itself after allowing 36 points and 432 yards.
Wade Woodaz and Jake Hummel are now the names to watch as the Texans sort out the middle of their defense in TooToos absence. For a group that was already searching for answers after a rough debut, the next few weeks will be a test of depth, communication and how quickly the younger pieces can handle expanded roles. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Need A Familiar Linebacker To Steady This Defense
The Texans moved quickly to shore up their linebacker depth, signing Jamal Hill from the practice squad to the 53-man roster after Henry To'oTo'o was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury expected to keep him out for about two months. Hill has been with Houston long enough to be a familiar part of the mix, and his path to this moment has been unusual, with the converted safety now entering his fourth professional season.
For most of his time with the Texans, Hill has been a special teams contributor, but the roster move gives him a more direct role in helping absorb the loss in the middle of the defense. Houston did not have much time to wait around for answers at linebacker, and Hill's promotion is the clearest sign the team is leaning on someone already in the building while To'oTo'o recovers. [Read more 🡒]